Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs 2009 English Sparkling Wine 75cl

Nyetimber has had a since single aim for the past twenty years: to make the finest English Sparkling wine to rival the very best in the world, including Champagne. Nyetimber was the first English producer to create sparkling wine from the holy trinity of grape varieties found in Champagne: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Owner, Eric Heerema and winemaker, Cherie Spriggs create all their sparkling wines solely from grapes grown on their estate. Located on the chalky soils of the South Downs - which provide the ideal conditions for grape growing - Nyetimber planted their first vines in 1988 and now boast a 170-hectare vineyard plot.

As one of the leading names in the English sparkling wine industry, it is perhaps unsurprising that Nyetimber continue to innovate. In 2013, they released their first single vineyard sparkling wine, with a limited production of just 2,900 bottles - each of them individualy numbered. The following year they introduced a code onto the back label of Classic Cuvée 2009, enabling customers to determine the bottling, riddling and disgorgement dates of each bottle.

Weather: The 2009 growing season in England experienced steady and consistent weather patterns with average temperatures allowing for predictable growth and flowering. Flowering began in the middle of June in the midst of sunny conditions that continued throughout August. With rainfall 40% less than average, the early-October harvest produced grapes of good health and perfect ripeness.

Tasting Note: Pale gold in colour with a tiny streams of bubbles. Aromas of floral and citrus notes on the nose. In the mouth, the wine opens with a fresh acidity combined with more citrus flavours and through the mid-palate develops with some toasty characteristics. A great example of the impressive potential of English Chardonnay.

“100% Chardonnay. Acidity 8.5 g/l, pH 2.94, residual sugar 10.5 g/l. Bottled on 25 March 2010. Riddling date 24 July 2014. Disgorged on 9 September 2014. This wine did particularly well in a tasting for Parisian wine professionals hosted by wine writer Matthew Jukes in late April 2016.
Lovely mature nose. This does smell rather like champagne! But then on the palate there is the trademark acidity. Very clean and brisk but not tart. Current release. Very seductive.”

Nyetimber History

The Nyetimber estate counts three major landmarks in its history. Its earliest beginnings saw it first recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086. Then there was the planting of their first vines, almost exactly 900 years later. Most recently, there was the decision in 2006 that Nyetimber wines deserved an audience on the world stage.

Nyetimber is in the fortunate position of owning 100% of their vineyards and all of their wines are produced from their 170 hectares of vines planted on the best sites in West Sussex and Hampshire. Nyetimber’s vineyards were the first to be devoted exclusively to the holy trinity of Champagne grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The climate in Southern England permits the slow ripening of grapes, allowing the optimum level of acidity to be reached as well as the complexity and finesse that Nyetimber strive for.

Chief winemaker Cherie Spriggs is central to every decision that gets made. Drawn to Nyetimber many years ago while still living in Canada, Cherie’s training includes postgraduate study at the Wine Research Centre in Vancouver. She worked in McLaren Vale and the Hunter Valley before joining Nyetimber with her husband Brad in 2007. Cherie assesses each and every handpicked vineyard individually and chooses the optimal time to harvest the grapes, supervising their gentle pressing and eventual vinification in stainless-steel tanks.

Nyetimber craft all of their wines according to the traditional method, ageing them for extended periods of time and giving the bottles sufficient post-disgorgement resting before release. In January 2014, Nyetimber began releasing bottling, riddling and disgorgement dates. Over the course of 25 years, Nyetimber has established itself as a pioneer and has become known for its integrity and perfectionism. This new initiative has been implemented in an effort towards greater transparency and to demonstrate Nyetimber’s continued endeavour for quality.

Bottles of Classic Cuvée 2009 have a new back label with a code and message directing consumers to the Nyetimber website to discover their wine’s story. The website has been set up so that connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike will find it easy to navigate, useful and informative. Eric Heerema, Owner and CEO says: “As the most prestigious English sparkling wine producer, we have a responsibility for transparency and at Nyetimber, we pride ourselves on going over and beyond the standardised practices established by the world’s most renowned sparkling wine producers.”